bicycle chain
1
2.3
- noun
- /ˈbaɪsɪkəl tʃeɪn/
:
cadena de bicicleta
- The bicycle chain helps transfer power from the pedals to the rear wheel, making it easier to ride uphill.
Examples
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MAMI: His foot got caught in a bicycle chain.
Fiction book (2002) -
First, the man whose brother had put pig fat on his bicycle chain, then the bald priest, then the art curators.
Fiction book (1996) -
He positioned the bicycle chain and the electric wire at the top, then stuck the whole thing in Barney's face.
Fiction book (1995) -
The rest of the time, the bicycle chain is a neat little microcosm of everything that makes a bike great: it's cheap, easy to maintain, and is arguably the most efficient drive train in the history of mechanical engineering.
Blog text (2) -
A radically new and unique bike design has been created by Josh Bechtel of Scalyfish Designs, which provides a much more compact size than traditional bike frames and has removed the need for a bicycle chain to power the rear wheels.
Blog text (19) -
To keep your bike running smoothly, it's important to regularly clean and lubricate the bicycle chain.
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If the bicycle chain is too loose, it can come off the gears while you're cycling.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a chain that transfers power on a bicycle' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'bicycle' (the vehicle) with 'chain' (linked metal rings). This simple noun+noun composition maps onto an obvious part-whole relationship and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Bicycle chain is the metal chain that links the pedals and the rear wheel of a bicycle. When you turn the pedals, the chain pulls the wheel, so the name simply tells you it is the part that 'makes the bike move'.